SOMC Honors Nurses On Certified Nurses Day

Posted on March 21st, 2011

Southern Ohio Medical Center recently honored its 162 board certified nurses on Certified Nurses Day, March 19. Certified Nurses Day is a national day of recognition for certified nurses and celebrates the achievements of Margretta Madden Styles, the “Mother of Nurse Credentialing.”

“We are very proud of all of our nurses at SOMC,” Valerie DeCamp, director of nursing for Inpatient Services and Accreditation, said. “On behalf of the organization, it is my pleasure to express the gratitude we feel for the proficiency and leadership our nurses demonstrate when they achieve and maintain national board certification in their nursing specialty.”

Certification, as defined by the American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS), is the formal recognition of the specialized knowledge, skills and experience demonstrated by the achievement of standards identified by a nursing specialty to promote optimal health results.

“As a result of nurses acquiring additional certifications, it creates an environment of professionalism and specialized competency,” Karen Walburn, manager of Employment, said. “This special day gives us an opportunity to recognize and encourage nurses to pursue this important step in their careers.”

“We realize that it takes personal dedication and persistence to achieve and maintain certification,” DeCamp added. “We value their commitment to nursing excellence.”